7,500 Scientologists and guests of the International Association of Scientologists from some 65 nations turned up to embark on a weekend of exhilarating events celebrating a year that marks the 33rd anniversary of the International Association of Scientologists.

The assemblage of Scientologists from 65 nations gathered on Friday evening, October 6th, for a celebration that acknowledged 12 months of humanitarian help in the name of the International Association of Scientologists.

The majestic weekend of events spanned three days and nights in honor of the IAS legacy in alignment with the original purpose: “To unite, advance, support and protect the Scientology religion and Scientologists in all parts of the world so as to achieve the Aims of Scientology as originated by L. Ron Hubbard.”

“Yes, you’ve arrived at this Kingdom of the IAS,” said David Miscavige, the ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion. “A kingdom where all similarities to the physical universe are purely coincidental. Indeed, this is where IAS members from all over this Earth, come in and take a seat: From North America, South America, Africa, Asia, Oceania, a hundred cities of Europe and from all over this United Kingdom. Because and all told, we now celebrate 147 lands with an IAS presence no one will ever forget.”

Mr. David Miscavige, the ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion and Chairman of the Board Religious Technology Center, welcomed the international audience for the first of three nights in a weekend of festivities.

The past year has seen a worldwide humanitarian whirlwind of unadulterated help in the name of IAS-sponsored initiatives from—battling drug abuse and human rights violations, including the field of mental health, as well as instilling morality and bringing aid in times of disaster, both acute and everyday.

SAFEGUARDING VICTIMS IN GERMANY
The Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) Germany exposed psychiatric malfeasance among commercial airline pilots and paved the way for a law setting zero tolerance for pilots’ use of psychoactive drugs.

SAFEGUARDING VICTIMS IN GERMANY
The Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) Germany exposed psychiatric malfeasance among commercial airline pilots and paved the way for a law setting zero tolerance for pilots’ use of psychoactive drugs.

DEFENDING THE FAMILY UNIT
In Tel Aviv, CCHR exposed systemic psychiatric abuse and child drugging and secured unprecedented due process for parents whose children were unjustly removed from their custody.

DEFENDING THE FAMILY UNIT
In Tel Aviv, CCHR exposed systemic psychiatric abuse and child drugging and secured unprecedented due process for parents whose children were unjustly removed from their custody.

TAKING A STAND FOR THE LIBERTY OF PATIENTS
In India, an outdated Mental Health Act from 1987 was doing little to protect the welfare of citizens, until CCHR India inspired a rewriting of the nation’s mental health law to permanently protect patients’ rights.

TAKING A STAND FOR THE LIBERTY OF PATIENTS
In India, an outdated Mental Health Act from 1987 was doing little to protect the welfare of citizens, until CCHR India inspired a rewriting of the nation’s mental health law to permanently protect patients’ rights.

INSTILLING NEW VALUES IN THE PHILIPPINES
The Way to Happiness ambassadors entered uncharted territory in the Philippines, sparking widespread adoption to train some 29,000 police officers on the booklet’s universal moral precepts.

INSTILLING NEW VALUES IN THE PHILIPPINES
The Way to Happiness ambassadors entered uncharted territory in the Philippines, sparking widespread adoption to train some 29,000 police officers on the booklet’s universal moral precepts.

AN UPLIFTING MESSAGE FROM THE PULPIT
In Zambia, a land where survival is a day-to-day endeavor, an Anglican Minister formed 70 Way to Happiness groups to turn a message from the pulpit into a community plan inspiring a tenfold increase in productivity across a region of 50,000 square miles.

AN UPLIFTING MESSAGE FROM THE PULPIT
In Zambia, a land where survival is a day-to-day endeavor, an Anglican Minister formed 70 Way to Happiness groups to turn a message from the pulpit into a community plan inspiring a tenfold increase in productivity across a region of 50,000 square miles.

RIGHTS EDUCATION AND PROTECTION IN PAKISTAN
United for Human Rights enlightened and empowered over 19,000 Pakistani students and subsequently drafted and won passage for the “Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence Act.”

RIGHTS EDUCATION AND PROTECTION IN PAKISTAN
United for Human Rights enlightened and empowered over 19,000 Pakistani students and subsequently drafted and won passage for the “Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence Act.”

DRUG EDUCATION FOR THE MASSES AT RIO OLYMPICS
5,000 Drug-Free World volunteers led a campaign that launched at the Brazil Olympics and saw over 2 million Truth About Drugs booklets distributed across São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

DRUG EDUCATION FOR THE MASSES AT RIO OLYMPICS
5,000 Drug-Free World volunteers led a campaign that launched at the Brazil Olympics and saw over 2 million Truth About Drugs booklets distributed across São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

SCIENTOLOGY VOLUNTEER MINISTER IMPACT IN PERU
Scientology Volunteer Ministers were among the first responders to Peru’s northern coast, where dozens of mudslides overpowered the region. Altogether, the VMs delivered succor to more than 75,000 residents.

SCIENTOLOGY VOLUNTEER MINISTER IMPACT IN PERU
Scientology Volunteer Ministers were among the first responders to Peru’s northern coast, where dozens of mudslides overpowered the region. Altogether, the VMs delivered succor to more than 75,000 residents.

PARTNERSHIP IN THE NAME OF PREVENTION
Churches of Scientology formed the core of community disaster prevention in each of their zones. Volunteer Ministers now partner with over 1,400 agencies and organizations.

PARTNERSHIP IN THE NAME OF PREVENTION
Churches of Scientology formed the core of community disaster prevention in each of their zones. Volunteer Ministers now partner with over 1,400 agencies and organizations.

The stars of the bright and dynamic evening were three Freedom Medal Winners, who each epitomize relentless progress toward the goals of Scientologists everywhere for a peaceful, productive and crime-free world, where social justice prevails.

Brian Daniels of the UK was presented the first IAS Freedom Medal of 2017. He stepped out under CCHR’s banner to tackle psychiatric abuses within the country’s mental hospitals, exposing misconduct by psychiatrists in the field and forcing reforms: “There comes a time when you question what’s commonly accepted as truth. When you know you’re being fed lies, you must do something about it. And the message CCHR brings to the world is simple, psychiatry is destructive and your time is up.”

Minister Tony Muhammad, peacemaker and activist for human rights, created a Way to Happiness movement in the inner cities of Los Angeles, the gang capital of the world, with 50 peace rides across 33 notorious neighborhoods resulting in an unprecedented 40 percent drop in crime: “I will continue to spread peace to every urban city in America, with the support of the IAS and all of you. You will be proud of us and we of you. So, together, let us rid our planet of insanity and all wars.”

Binod Sharma, a native of Nepal, was the night’s final IAS Freedom Medal recipient. In the wake of his country’s 2015 monster earthquake, Binod led his teams across 101 otherwise forgotten villages and districts hit by disaster, ultimately delivering help to 4 million Nepalese: “To me, the Freedom Medal Award is the greatest achievement in my life. This has given me a big responsibility to do even more for my country.”

The celebration spotlighted the spectacular growth of the Scientology religion and its humanitarian initiative made possible by the IAS. In essence, the evening was a testament to the impact one community can have on humanity in just 12 months.

Over the course of two and a half hours, Mr. Miscavige, Chairman of the Board Religious Technology Center, unveiled the accelerating pace of the Church’s expansion and its humanitarian mission reflected in the evening’s diverse stories and presentations.

Thousands of Scientologists rose to their feet time and again in celebration of the year’s accomplishments in the name of the IAS.

Attendees for the weekend gala comprised IAS members from six continents, all united with a purpose—to celebrate their humanity and that of all mankind. Following the event, one attendee declared: “I feel updated, inspired and part of a united team having a huge impact on this world.”

“There was just so much to be inspired by and proud of. We are changing the world with our passion and belief and we are doing it in style!” said one Scientologist attending Friday night’s event.

Another Scientologist encapsulated the evening’s spirit when they said: “This event is all about expansion, on all projects and across every avenue. You feel part of a very special group, capable of the impossible!”

Friday night’s celebration transformed Saturday evening as the Grand Marquee hosted the annual IAS Patrons Ball. The spectacular black-tie dinner and entertainment gala is held in recognition of those IAS members supporting the humanitarian work and initiatives feted over the course of the weekend.

The accent on the weekend of festivities was the traditional Saint Hill Charity Concert attended by 1,500 local residents. The crowd was entertained by an array of performers that featured Grammy Award-winning jazz legend Stanley Clarke.

The evening of music and dance saw five local charities awarded donations to expand their activities serving the local community and all of it in keeping with the tradition started by L. Ron Hubbard during the years he called Saint Hill home.

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East Grinstead, United Kingdom

IAS GALA WEEKEND FÊTES YEAR OF HUMANITARIAN HELP AND ADVANCE

October 8, 2017

The International Association of Scientologists (IAS), an ever-expanding force for good within the worldwide humanitarian community, gathered in East Grinstead, Southern England, on the first weekend in October to recognize a year of expansion and accomplishment.

The narrow old carriage roads that twist and turn through the small villages and farms of West Sussex were crowded with cars and buses on a Friday evening in early fall, as thousands of Scientologists, guests and friends poured onto the well-manicured grounds of Saint Hill Manor—the home of Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard.

Through openings between the dense hedges and trees that line those roads, visitors could see the distant outline of the elegant Saint Hill—alive with light on the rolling horizon—glowing like distant fire in the fading autumn light.

Beyond the Manor gates, past the entrances and down the long sweeping drive to the pavilion and the Great Hall, to a stage erected under cover of a massive marquee, members of the International Association of Scientologists from more than 65 nations filled the air with diverse language as they walked into the arena with a purpose—to celebrate their humanity and that of all mankind.

The celebration for 2017 marked the 33rd since the IAS was founded at Saint Hill in 1984 to unite, advance, support and protect the world’s youngest and fastest-growing major religion. Members and guests came also to honor those who helped the Church realize a year of hope and achievement on the path toward Scientology’s goals for a better life for all.

Over the course of two and a half hours, Mr. Miscavige, Chairman of the Board Religious Technology Center, unveiled the accelerating pace of the Church’s expansion and its humanitarian mission reflected in the evening’s diverse stories and presentations.

“Yes, you’ve arrived at this Kingdom of the IAS,” said David Miscavige, the ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion.

“Where all similarities to the physical universe are purely coincidental…

“Where IAS members from all over this Earth, come in and take a seat: From North America, South America, Africa, Asia, Oceania, a hundred cities of Europe and from all over this United Kingdom.

“Because, and all told, we now celebrate 147 lands with an IAS presence no one will ever forget.”

So it was, Mr. Miscavige outlined each punctuation point of that presence across two and a half hours of solid-packed energy. In fact, the night not only surveyed the kingdom of humanitarian outreach from the highlands to the lowlands of Earth, but it further focused on expansion of the religion itself in outlands never previously seen.

The accelerating pace of the Church’s expansion and of its humanitarian missions is also reflected in the account of stories featuring diverse expressions of social goodwill. Each story unto itself is a chart-topper, but altogether they form a symphony of humanitarian help spanning renowned IAS-sponsored initiatives. All began with telling accounts of mental health abuse and its rapid reform by the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR).

Campaign action further unfolded courtesy of: Drug-Free World and a power movement driving The Truth About Drugs against the tide of abuse; United for Human Rights, keeping alive the flame of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; The Way to Happiness instilling moral resurgence through its 21 precepts for universal living; and the wave of Volunteer Minister support brought to 21 major disaster sites this year alone, not to mention countless moments of personal strife for individuals across this world.

Examples of the sheer impact of the initiatives during the presentation included:

The Way to Happiness ambassadors entering uncharted territory in the Philippines, sparking widespread adoption to train some 29,000 police officers on the booklet’s universal moral precepts.

In Zambia, a land where survival is a day-to-day endeavor, an Anglican Minister forming 70 Way to Happiness groups, turned a message from the pulpit into a tenfold increase in productivity across a region of 50,000 square miles.

United for Human Rights enlightening and empowering over 19,000 Pakistani students and subsequently drafting and getting passed, the “Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence Act” to guarantee their rights forevermore.

5,000 Drug-Free World volunteers leading a campaign that launched at the Brazil Olympics and saw over 2 million Truth About Drugs booklets distributed across São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

And the Scientology Volunteer Ministers traversing 200,000 miles to bring life and hope to nearly four million people including those worst hit by an onslaught of natural and man-made disasters.

Many more tales unfolded, led by the stars of this bright and dynamic night. Namely, three IAS Freedom Medal Winners, who each epitomize relentless progress toward the goals of the religion everywhere for a peaceful, productive and crime-free world, where social justice prevails. As Mr. Miscavige introduced them one by one, a common ethic of work, courage, persistence and dedication were evident in their stories:

In the UK, Freedom Medal recipient Brian Daniels, stepped out under CCHR’s banner to tackle psychiatric abuses within the country’s mental hospitals, pointing to misconduct by psychiatrists in the field and forcing reforms. He further inspired a run of national exposés on links between mind-altering drugs and an increase in child suicide, leading to unprecedented “black box warnings” on pharmaceutical drugs to permanently protect British youth.

Peacemaker and activist for human rights, Minister Tony Muhammad, created a Way to Happiness movement in the inner cities of Los Angeles, the gang capital of the world, with 50 peace rides across 33 notorious neighborhoods resulting in a 40 percent drop in crime. Tony then persisted in bringing together rival gangs to confront the violence between them, winning a ceasefire and peace agreements between bitter gang rivals—the Crips and Bloods.

Binod Sharma, a native of Nepal, launched his VM team in response to the 2015 monster earthquake to bring succor to 15,000 residents in the first five days of response. Binod then led his teams across 101 otherwise forgotten villages and districts hit by disaster, ultimately bringing help to 4 million Nepalese. In the aftermath, and to bring permanent help, he further established a Volunteer Minister headquarters and 169 groups across his nation.

Friday night’s celebration was expanded Saturday evening as the grand marquee transformed into the annual IAS Patrons Ball. The spectacular black-tie dinner and entertainment gala is held in recognition of those IAS members supporting the humanitarian work and initiatives feted over the course of the weekend.

The accent on the weekend of festivities was the traditional Saint Hill Charity Concert attended by 1,500 local residents. The evening of music and dance saw five local charities awarded donations to expand their activities serving the local community and all of it in keeping with the tradition started by L. Ron Hubbard during the years he called Saint Hill home.

The IAS, the official membership organization of Scientology open to all Scientologists from all nations, was formed in 1984. The purpose of the IAS is to unite, advance, support and protect the Scientology religion and Scientologists in all parts of the world so as to achieve the Aims of Scientology as originated by L. Ron Hubbard: “A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where Man is free to rise to greater heights.”